Merthyr overcome early deficit to cruise into last eight at Blue & Blacks’ expense

PRINCIPALITY Premiership cham- pions Merthyr came from behind to beat Cardiff 37-12 at Cardiff Arms Park and advance to the last eight of the WRU National Cup, writes Jay Bayford.

Seven-time winners Cardiff took the lead on seven minutes after wing James Beal crashed over but Matthew Jarvis hit back for Merthyr.

The full back went over to level the score before slotting over the resulting conversion to edge the Ironmen ahead.

And the reliable kicker then extended their lead with a penalty soon after.

In-form winger Kyle Evans then went over minutes before the halftime whistle to give Merthyr more control with Jarvis adding the conversion.

Jarvis kicked two more penalties after the break before adding the conversions to tries from Justin James and Nick White.

Nicky Griffiths did score for the Blue and Blacks in the second half but it was the Ironmen who went through.

Llandovery followed Merthyr through after a simple 38-9 victory over rivals Llanelli at Church Bank.

Ioan Hughes’ penalty gave record 14-time winners Llanelli an early lead but Ryan Evans replied almost immediately to put the hosts ahead after Kristian Jones kicked the conversion.

Hughes reduced the deficit with a second penalty but once again 2015 champions Llandovery hit back with Ricky Guest on the scoresheet.

The game continued to follow the same pattern with a Drovers try following a Hughes penalty. Duane Eager this time crossing the whitewash with Jones converting.

But the Drovers turned on the style in the second half to score 19 unanswered points.

Shaun Miles, Joe Powell, Aaron Warren got the tries while Jones and Josh Hammett each booted a conversion to seal an emphatic win.

Meanwhile, Cross Keys cruised into the quarter finals are thrashing Championship outfit Bedlinog 41-7.

Cross Keys, winners in 2012, took a 13-0 half-time lead through a converted Nathan Trowbridge touch down and two Josh Prosser penalties.

A Leon Barnett brace and tries from Leon Andrews and Mathew Powell settled the tie in Keys’ favour with Corey Shephard and Josh Prosser sharing five conversions overall.

Damon Pritchard claimed Bedlinog’s sole try.

And Bargoed strolled past Rhydyfelin 40-0 to book their place in the next round.

Centre Lewis Bowden, flanker Jonathan Armitage, centre Darren Humphries, outside-half Matthew Lewis, Jordan Howells and wing Duane Dyer were all on the scoresheet while Lewis added five conversions to round off the win in spectacular fashion.